I am so thankful for these beautiful eyes.

Franny picked out this blanket to give Delaney for her trip home from the hospital.  It is a very cozy blanket, but I have always used it because, for Franny, it is a special connection she has to Delaney.  Now, it is unquestionably a very special blanket for Delaney, as well.  She wraps it around her and buries her nose in it every night before she goes to sleep, she ‘carries’ it around with her, and it absolutely gives her great comfort when she is upset.  I know her attachment to the blanket is due to our always using it for her, but I find it very sweet that it is Franny’s blanket that she loves.  Especially since I know that fact isn’t lost on Franny.

Peek-a-boo from T on Vimeo.

Franny’s top bunk is a big deal in our house. Since we set it up, without one exception, she has slept on the top bunk every night that she has slept at home.  Cole loves it, as well.  He and Franny play on the top bunk almost daily, and he will also go read books there on his own when Franny is at school.  I no longer even plan playgroup activities, because the bunk bed becomes the center of activity from nearly start to finish.  Surprisingly (and thankfully!), we haven’t had any accidents.  And, considering Cole’s propensity for falls, bumps, and bruises, that is really saying a lot.   When we first bought the bunk bed, I wasn’t sure if it was really going to be worth it and I was afraid the novelty would wear off quickly and we would be left with just a huge piece of furniture.  Needless to say, I no longer have those concerns.  Although the kitchen is still the hub of our house, Franny’s bunk bed is definitely right up there!

Food on the face is sometimes a clear indication of the satisfaction of the food in hand…

We are so fortunate that Franny is interested in being a big sister, and that she is also very sweet and loving.    Sometimes it may seem like she is a little rough, but in most cases she is doing what she thinks Delaney would like; Franny likes to show Delaney how to do things—like splashing in the water table or playing with different toys.  Frequently, these things, seem rougher than they really are.  I try to give her as much leeway as possible, because I want to her to know that she is a good big sister, which I know is very important to her.  She may grab her hands or give her hugs that seem gruff, but as long as Delaney is okay, than I limit how much I interject.  In more cases than not, Delaney is more than okay—she is usually thrilled.   I don’t think that they are too young to be problem solvers—learning to react to each other’s emotions and needs is an important part of their relationship, and one that that I have seen them do.  Because Delaney still is so little, it’s very easy to constantly be saying no and limiting their contact.  But, with the obvious exceptions, I don’t think this benefits either of them.  These two sisters can—and are—figuring it out—one day at a time.

There is nothing that Delaney likes more than being with Franny and Cole.  It is when she is with these two that we see the biggest, most beautiful smiles.  I love these.   

For the first time, Delaney joined Franny and Cole in their bath time.  She usually takes her bath in a separate tub, but has recently not enjoyed it, to say the least.  She didn’t, however, seem to have any complaints with this new set-up.  Franny and Cole had to be much calmer than usual, but they really didn’t mind. Maybe, from now on, most of the water will stay in the tub, rather than across the bathroom floor.  That, would definitely be a good thing.  And, don’t let their serious expressions fool you—they all loved it!

This is, of course, just two days after we had the house cleaned.  All three of them are just too silly!

Cole found these Carhartt overalls in his dresser today, and immediately thought they were the no less than the greatest. The sweet little tool man finally has the gear to go with his tools—and Franny showed him just how perfectly they fit in his back pockets.  She also set up the front room as ‘the shop’ and their little table as his tool bench.  Cole is in heaven.

This was definitely Franny’s kind of day.  First, we met up with friends at the pirate park to play and have a picnic lunch.  Then, we all went to our favorite local toy store for crafts inspired by Earth Day.  Franny made a lovely multi-colored cow out of an egg carton and pipe cleaners.  While she painted away, Cole chose to instead play at their train table, and Delaney soon insisted on joining him.  They also had a story time.  Lastly, we wrapped it up at Bliss Bake Shop—Franny and Cole had M&M topped cupcakes while Delaney had a vegan carrot cake cupcake.  This wonderfully kid-friendly place has kid tables, toys, and books, so while all the kids played together (Delaney, too!) I was able to enjoy a coffee with my friends before we finally headed home.  Everyone—even Delaney—had such a great time. Come to think of it, it was my kind of day, too!

Franny rides her bike every chance she gets.  This weekend, Rick loosened up her training wheels to see how she would do if she couldn’t rely on them completely to stay balanced.  She did great!  She was a little wobbly at first, but soon was zipping around again at full speed.  I think she probably could ride without them, but we’re just letting her decide when she’s ready, and as of right now, she doesn’t want to take them off.   I don’t think it will be too long, however, until she decides she wants to take the plunge.  We’ll see!

Sticky mosaics are fun projects that Franny really enjoys doing, and are a perfect activity for her to do during her quiet time, since they have minimal mess and she can do them independently.  She picked out this tiara set—it came with six—and today, she made tiaras for all of us.  We all felt very fancy!

Delaney is definitely in that baby stage where everything goes into her mouth.  And, she has always been the stage where she wants to play with everything that Cole and Franny play with.  When Cole was this age, there were definitely toys that Franny played with that we had to be careful of.  But, with the addition of another two years brings a whole new wave of small and hazardous toys.  Now, almost everything is small, and keeping things organized and the floor clean has our utmost priority.  The major culprits seem to be doll parts, crayons, and figures; not to mention Franny’s three new bead sets that have compounded the process at least that many times.  It’s interesting what different experiences each of the kids has had at this highly experimental time.  Delaney is needing to explore her environment in order to learn, but there is so much restriction to her that is also visible to her.  Of course, we have plenty of age appropriate toys for Delaney, but that only holds her attention so long before she gravitates toward Franny or Cole and whatever they are doing or playing with.  I suppose it is a trade-off.  She benefits so much from having such attentive siblings and the fun atmosphere they provide for her.  But, she also living in their world with minimal access to the things that intrigue her.  Unfortunately, there is no solution for her, so I all I can say is, All in time, Delaney, all in time. 

Trio playing from T on Vimeo.

This past weekend, Franny attended a very fun birthday party for one of her friends.  It was an ‘almost sleepover’ where she came in her pajamas and brought her sleeping bag, pillow, and a stuffed friend—which for Franny, was her twins, of course!  It was also the first party that we’ve taken her to that we dropped her off and she attended without us.  It was one of her playgroup friends, so I had absolutely no concerns about us leaving her.  She had the greatest time!  They played games and watched a movie.  When she came home, she wanted to sit and tell me all about it, which is very unlike Franny, and very fun for me.  At the end of her recap, she asked me if I  remembered the game they played at the same little girl’s party last year, which Franny had been too shy to play.  She said they had the same game this year but this time she played too.  I was so happy for her—she was so proud!  Then, I asked her what movie they watched, and she said she couldn’t remember.  That’s okay—she remembered all the important things.

It is truly a gift to have Delaney as part of our family.  Every day is amazing, as she changes in some way with each passing day.  Each day there is a new expression, a new sound, a new reaction. Ten months have now passed.  Soon she will be walking, and eventually, talking.   The baby days have been hard, as they have forced us to simplify and change how we do things, but they have also been incredibly precious and I have cherished each day.  She brought chaos into our family, but also indescribable  joy, love, and even calm.  What an incredible ten months it has been!

At Franny’s party I was talking to the dad of one her friends, and he told me about a conversation he had with his son the night before, following a party that both he and Franny had attended.  It went something like this:

Dad:  Did you have a good time at the party?

Myles:  Yes.

Dad:  Were there any girls there?

Myles:  Yes.

Dad:  Were there any cute girls there?

Myles:  Yes.  Franny was there.

I found the story very amusing, although it was not the first time I have heard similar stories from other parents of her friends that are boys. But now, when I look up at Franny in her bedroom window, I can’t help but wonder how many teenage boys will have this similar view in the very distant future.  Sigh.

There is nothing that says spring like Tulips.  Their bold presence and vibrancy of color is one of the first tell-tale signs of the changing of the seasons.  In Oregon, the transition from winter to spring always feels especially significant.  As we finally start to emerge from long stretches of rain, the warmth of the sun is especially welcoming and creates a feeling that is almost indescribable.  It enhances every emotion and feeling in a positive way.  At the Tulip Festival today, we had the very  best that spring has to offer.  There was the beautiful sun, acres of tulips, and some very dear friends.  Our time spent was much too short—we can’t wait to return!

In our family, Franny started the beans and rice craze, with her love for Chipotle’s version.  Later, as we started eating at home more, she and Cole both loved to eat brown rice, black beans, and salsa.  They will eat this for dinner at least once a week, when we need something quick and easy.  As a result, Delaney started eating mashed up black beans early on.  She really did love them from the start, but now it is absolutely clear that black beans is her favorite food, hands down.  Rather than rice, Delaney’s favorite combination is black beans and avocado, which she eats with the utmost enthusiasm and in quantities that compare to nothing else. It’s seems almost too simple, but it is very healthy and she loves it!

Last night, this was Cole’s emphatic pajama choice.  Great choice, I think!

It’s such a somber face for such a beautiful day.  Poor Delaney is in one of those stages where she isn’t able to do what she wants to do, and she seems to know it.  She wants to play outside and keep up with Cole and Franny.  Cruising along the porch railing, sitting on her little car, or even being held doesn’t satisfy her.  Put in any of these positions, and she wants to drop to the ground and crawl after her silly siblings.  Inside, this is not a problem—they all play chase and have a great time together.  But, cement is not the kind surface that hardwood floors are.  She will stay in the grass if that is where everyone is playing, but that doesn’t happen very frequently.  And, being forced to wear a hat is just the last straw to put Delaney into a disgruntled disposition.  I’m not one for wanting my kids to grow up faster, but if Delaney could just get up onto two feet, the spring and summer will be much more enjoyable for everyone—especially Delaney.

The anticipation and excitement have past, but memories and balloons still linger…much to Delaney’s delight.